Tale of two viruses

 

Covid-19 has turned 2020 into a tale of two viruses.  On almost every media outlet we are told the death tolls and fed fear about the infection rate.  But there is another side to this issue and that is what hardly anyone else is talking about, the survivability rate.  We are bombarded daily by the newest death toll, lockdowns from govt officials, told if we don't all wear masks we are trying to kill off the elderly and high risk people, and given numbers which go up and down on an almost hourly basis.  The problem here is very obvious to anyone willing to verify sources and validate claims, NOBODY knows anything for sure!

At the beginning of 2020 Covid-19 reached American shores, or so we were told.  I know some people personally who had symptoms and such long before Jan 2020.  The list of protections included masks, social distancing, hand sanitizer, and proper hygiene.  At first we were told by govt officials and medical experts not to go and buy masks as they were not effective against this strain of virus.  Then a few months later we were told masks were the only way to prevent yourself from getting the virus and they had only told us they were not so the medical front line workers would have access to the masks they needed to protect themselves.  Then about a month or so later other medical experts came out claiming masks could not protect you and the CDC shifted to protecting others as the reason for the masks.  It has gone on like this all year.  The only things that were constant were social distancing and washing your hands.  

As we reached March we saw widespread lockdowns and were told 15 days to slow the spread of Covid to ensure the hospitals did not get overwhelmed.  The period for the lockdown varied by state with some staying locked down for months on end.  These decisions crushed local businesses while giants like Walmart and Amazon made billions.  It should be noted that those giants are also the ones backing lockdowns until a vaccine is available, wonder why.  So did the lockdowns help?  Yes it did slow the spread and allow our hospitals to stock up and prepare for virus better.  As states began opening up we saw a rise in cases as expected.  The hospitals did not get overwhelmed yet some state governors refused to open things back up.  This caused a massive protest against the lockdowns.  When that happened the news told us that all the business owners were putting us all at risk being out in large groups protesting.  Yet when there were large groups protesting police brutality the media  applauded these people and claimed the virus would not be spread there.  I think this is the first virus in history to be so socially conscious.  

So here we are Dec 2020 and I am still seeing people on social media spread fear of a virus that has a survivability rate that exceeds 98%.  Daily they post about the latest death numbers, how it isn't a flu and should be feared, and mock those of us who are looking at this from a statistical and real perspective.  They say that looking at it that way is discounting those who have died or will die from this illness.  As we saw from Thanksgiving a few days ago people are tired of not being around family and friends.  People are sick and tired of isolation.  People just want to get on with our lives.  I have yet to hear anyone who looks at the actual statistics say that masks, social distancing and protecting those most vulnerable should not be done and don't make a difference.  

So which of these two viruses is reality and which is not.  Truth is both exist and it is up to every single person to decide their level of comfort and what precautions and risks they are willing to take.  I happen to fall into the camp that knows the virus is not going away.  I understand the large impact these restrictions and lockdowns are having on communities all over the US.  I have had family members get the virus, be hospitalized, and make it through even though they were in multiple high risk categories.  I know people who have lost loved ones are impacted but also know that other factors are causing loss of life as well.  Alcoholism, domestic violence, suicide and homicides are all on the rise.  As people lose their business, jobs, income, homes, and marriages who is going to protect them?  The most honest answer for all of this is simple; Wear a mask, social distance as much as possible, was your damn hands, avoid being around people if you feel sick, and most of all stop being afraid.  This virus will be with us forever and we need to look it in the face and say we will not live in fear.  Our govt will not stop us from living our lives.  Businesses need to stand up and be willing to open despite the risks.  Only if we unite against tyrannical leaders unjust policies can we ever see some form of normality again.